WARNING: This review was written at an EXTREMELY late hour, so spelling errors, or anything just plain nonsensical can be chocked up to my not mentally firing on all cylinders.

I have an inkling that when this ep was first produced, the beans knew that the fans were still in withdrawal from the kickass Wake the Dead. So they figured, let’s give the people more of what they want: They like to see Kai absolutely flipping out…then absolutely flip out he shall! I liked this ep, primarily because it treated us to a few more tidbits from the past (along the same vein as Stan’s Trial), as well as the fact that it had some genuinely funny moments.

So it turns out that in addition to long lunches and as-you-like-it vacation time, the job of Divine Shadow has a pretty cushy retirement plan. Say what you will about them being evil incarnate, but there’s no denying they take care of their own (those they don’t mangle, eviscerate, or jettison into the protein bank that is).

The exterior shots of Ruma were amazing, and it’s clear that these visuals are a prelude to the eye-gasms (it’s a word) yet to come in season 3. What blew my mind, however, was the shot of the Lexx hovering just above the castle. I don’t think I blinked once during that entire segment.

The inhabitants of Ruma’s castle were a colorful bunch. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the father (forgot his name) go on to play one of the mobsters in Viva Lexx Vegas? I believe Lomea also pops up in season 4, but I can’t place her (too dang late to think).

I thought it was funny how Xev seemed completely oblivious to Lomea’s...um...attention. Guess love slaves are only programmed to play for one team (though we will eventually see that this isn’t always the case…personal character growth, or massive fan service from the beans…take your pick, I’m sure it’s a little of both).

The family’s robot, 792, cracked me up as well. The monocle, handlebar moustache, and foppish mannerisms gave the robot a kind of Hugh Grant feel. If only 790 could have met face to face with him. I have an inkling that the lovestruck head would have heaped a cadre of insults upon the mechanical butler.

Small, furry, wet animals...anyone else willing to bet that Lyekka and Lomea were actually talking about duckbilled platypuses? Anyone? Anyone at all...? Ok, that cinches it, I’m nuckin’ futs. While we’re on the subject of Lyekka, kudos to her wardrobe people on another job well done (when it doubt, cut some fabric out).

Ok, on to the capstone of the episode: Kai. You simply cannot script some of the off the wall stuff he was doing. It’s as though they just snuck up on Mike McManus, pointed the camera at him, and said "Go." You have to wonder how much of Kai’s strange behavior is based on his real personality, as was rendered semi-alive (simultaneously trouncing the laws of science and metaphysics…bloody good show beans!). Are we to assume he was a poet of some kind in his former life (keep in mind I’ve not yet seen Brigadoom, so I’m not fully in the know)? The way he put the jawbone over the face of the zombified Divine Shadow and tried to get him to speak was hilarious. In addition, Kai got to live out something I’m sure we’ve all fantasized about from time to time...pitching his former employer off a cliff! Lastly, the crowning moment of the episode, at least for me, had to be when Xev was trying to get the communicator from Kai, and talking to him like he was a dog. "Good boy. That’s a good Kai." Only in Lexx.

The zombified Xev looked freakish. Since, for a time, she was one of the "walking dead," it could be said that she was given a chance to walk a mile in Kai’s shoes. There is an oh-so-slight bit of differentiation to be done, however, as Kai never ate anybody. Speaking of which, when Xev asked if she ate the ex-cleric, I wouldn’t have been so straightforward in my answer. I’d have sugar coated it. Something along the lines of "Well, you didn’t not eat him," or "Yes, but you only gnawed in self defense." What can I say, that’s what passes for sensitivity in what passes for my mind.

Last, but not least, Mantrid struck again. It’s clear now that he’s toying with our heroes, as he seems to be following them around, likely reveling in all the sticky situations they find themselves in. The shot of Ruma disintegrating was yet another of the show’s outstanding visuals, as we saw the swarm literally fuse with the planet and absorb it. Personally, if I were Stan (and God willing, with a number of exceptions, some day I will be), I would have tried to get a shot off at Mantrid’s ship. I realize there would be no more show if they’d vaporized him at that point, but I tend to overthink things like this.

Well, it’s far too late for me to be staring at a screen any longer. All in all another quality ep, with plenty more still to come out of the chute.

Cheery bye.

____________________If you're normal, the crowd will accept you. But if you're deranged, the crowd will make you their leader.
— Christopher Titus

I loved how wild and wacky MM got to be in this ep. It was hysterical when he pushes the zombies off the cliff, and at the end has to suck the poison out of Xev, it was like a car crash, you didn't want to look away, you thought it was gross, but gripping. This is my third favorite ep from season 2.

This was the first ep in S2 where Kai got to be completely goofy. I bet they had a ball with the Shakespearean surrealism (Midsummer Night's Dream, As you like it', et") and they just let themselves go for it..